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If fortune favours the brave, then Manchester United deserve to win the Premiership title for a historic third successive time.

At Villa Park last night, they were second best for all but the final ten minutes before two goals. from David Beckham and Ryan Giggs took them seven points clear at the top of the table.

Aston Villa, going through their own ineffective spell deserved three points, but despite dominating, they succumbed to a piece of intelligent finishing from Beckham with eight minutes remaining.

Giggs added the second in the 89th minute.

Villa took the unexpected step of restoring Savo Milosevic to their attack, but it was more a question of necessity than desire.

The Yugoslavian, disciplined after spitting in the direction of Villa fans at the end of the recent 5-0 defeat at Blackburn, later refused to play for the club. But following a meeting with Doug Ellis. the Villa chairman. and manager Brian Little, he agreed to return.

Little has insisted there is no future at the club for Milosevic despite the player's decision to call off his strike action. "Savo is still on the transfer list.” he said.

The response from the fans was predictable. Previously a popular figure at Villa Park. Milosevic was booed when he took to the pitch. Clearly, with Dwight Yorke again absent through injury, this was a marriage of convenience.

Given that Villa had scored once in their previous three League games. they needed some form of injection in attack. But it was not only Villa who were attempting to restore confidence.

Stan Collymore, who has become almost as unpopular at Villa as Milosevic. offered them further hope midway through the first half with a shot from 15 yards which was only just off target.

Villa ended the first half on top and began the second period in similar style. Indeed, but for a shade more luck, they would have taken a healthy lead.

Within two minutes of the restart Julian Joachim, operating from midfield, fed lan Taylor. who delivered a right-footed volley which Schmeichel pushed on to the top of his left-hand post.

Almost immediately afterwards Joachim tricked his way past Denis Irwin and Butt and, with Schmeichel committed, he lifted the ball narrowly over.

United remained under pressure as Villa sensed the chance to claim valuable points. Milosevic twice provided accurate crosses, with Collymore shooting wide and Taylor diving to head towards goal, only for Schmeichel to make a less than convincing save. Bosnich had saved from Teddy Sheringham when, in the 82nd minute. Beckham chased a free ball, beat two players and drove the ball high into the net. With a minute remaining. Beckham turned provider for Giggs to compound Villa's problems.